Economy
The deficit-funded tax cuts that National gave the high income earners is still being paid for by borrowing.
When National won office at the end of 2008, they had a mandate to give median income earners a tax cut 'north of $50 a week'. At the time John Key made that promise he explicitly pledged not to increase GST to pay for it.
Read MoreSharp movements in exchange rates often reflect sophisticated specualtion. Is there much we can do about it?
Read MoreEconomic productivity and population growth have impacted New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions
Read MoreWhat we are witnessing is an old fashioned ideological debate, dressed up as economics.
The high dollar and its causes suit people who have a lot of New Zealand-denominated wealth; a lower dollar is better for producers - people who use capital to earn money.
Read MoreHow come we tolerated such appalling working conditions for so long? (And a tick for crusading journalism.)
Read MoreAre we paying enough attention to bureaucracy? Are the current bureaucratic pressures changing the nature of society -- and are they doing so for the public good?
Read MorePerhaps New Zealand’s acceptance of the TPPA will depend upon the outcome of the Northland by-election
Read MoreThe Northland by-election demonstrates we do not have a regional development policy. Should we? What might it look like?
Read MoreThe Elimination of Child Poverty Requires a Universal Child Benefit.
Read MoreThe increase of the share of those on top incomes has not been caused by market forces but is the result of their more favourable taxation regimes they have experienced since the early 1990s.
Read MoreThe inflation policy target has been missed regularly over the past two years, and will be missed for another year. The evidence is that the target has been moved. So by who? And will we be let in on the secret?
Read MoreToo much of our national media is located in Auckland and democracy suffers.
Read MoreThey involve tax rates horrendously high or the minimum incomes so low that ihe UMI is not a viable means of eliminating poverty.
Read More‘Iwi leaders and the Government have agreed on a deadline to sort out Maori interests in fresh water by Waitangi Day 2016.’ (News: 5 February 2015)
Read MorePolicy announcements do not always reflect careful analysis. Too often the unstated political considerations have too much influence.
Read MoreIt is not what Eleanor Catton said about the government, but how we respond to what she said.
Read MoreJeff Madrick identifies seven bad economic ideas; Alan Blinder is more cautious. What do economists actually believe, and how does it stack up against what we think economics says?
Read MoreWhat might a non-ideological capital gains tax look like?
Read MoreDo We Need Larger Local Authorities or Ones More in Touch with the Localities?
Read MoreAs Borders Fall Are Europeans Losing Their Cultural Identity
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